Bracelet



G. R'. HOWE.

(No Model.)

BRACELET.

FIGJ- UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. HOWE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERsEY.

BRACELET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,704, dated July 5, 1881.

' Application filed March 24, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HOWE Of Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracelets or Similar Articles of Jewelry, of which the following is a specification.

My invention applies to what are generally known as band or wire bracelets, or those made of two rigid halves or sections jointed together at the middle of the bracelet, to allow the sections thereof to open and close to admit and embrace the arm.

Heretofore the rigid halves or sections of such bracelets have been jointed together by an ordinar form of hinge, which has several 4 objections.

My improvement consists in an elastic or bendable wire spiral or braid, forming the middle orjoint section of the bracelet, joining the two rigid portions, and thus forming an improved and ornate species of hinge, which freely allows the opening and closing of the bracelet, and presents many advantages both mechanical and ornamental, as hereinafter set forth.

Figure l of the annexed drawings presents a view of my improved bracelet when closed, and Fig. 2 represents the same opened. Fig. 3 is a crosssection of the bendable braid or spiral forming the middle orjoint section of the bracelet.

In the drawings, a to indicate the two rigid or continuous halves or portions of the bracelet, which may be of round or any other suitable shape in crosssection, and may be either solid or hollow, and are, of course, curved into the usual oval form to suit the wrist, and provided with a suitable catch at their engaging ends.

b indicates an elastic or bendable wire spiral or braid, which forms the middle or joint section of the bracelet, being fixed at each end to the inner ends of the rigid halves a a, and is of an appreciable length-say about one-sixth the circumference of the whole bracelet, as illustrated. This spiral or braid is preferably made in a round tubular or hollow form, as seen in Fig. 3, and is preferably made up of several parallel strands of fine gold or other precious metallic wire, wound or plaited in a spiral form or web, as fully illustrated in the drawings; but a less or greater number of strands may, of course, be used, and the bra-id may be flat or of'otller shape, as will be readily understood.

It may now be seen that the wire spiral or braid formsboth a flexible and elastic section in the middle or joint portion of the bracelet, which allows the free opening or closing of the bracelet as it is applied to or removed from the wrist, and that it possesses several advantages over the ordinary hinge-joint. Thus, the middle orjoint portion of the bracelet becomes by this means one of the strongest instead of the weakest, as is the case with a hinge, and in addition the contour of the joint-section becomes smooth and uniform and free from protuberances or joints, which occur with the hinge, while there exists no possibility of pinching the flesh of the arm in closing the bracelet, as sometimes occurs in closing hinge-joints. Again, the elasticity of the braid or spiral always tends to close the bracelet, yet it readily bends or yields to the action of the hand to allow the opening of the bracelet, itbeing thus shown forcibly opened in Fig.2, so that should the clasp or catch of the bracelet become accidentally unfastened the bracelet will not fall from the arm, but will yet embrace it with sufficient looseness to give notice of its condition to the wearer, and at the same time obviate accidental loss.

Bracelets have, ofcourse, been made entirely of metal braid; but my improvement is obviously novel, in that the middle or joint portion of the bracelet only is made of metal braid,.

while the main portion is made of rigid metal, thus combining the advantages of two classes of bracelets. Thus, the improved bracelet has not only greater ornamental quality, but possesses greater stability of form and safety upon the arm than is the case with braid or chain bracelets.

The metal spiral or braid may, of course, be fastened to the rigid portions or halves a a in any suitable way 5 but I prefer to have the ends of the tubular braid abut against ornamental shoulders c c on the inner ends of the halves a a, from which short tenons at project into the bore of the hollow braid, and snugly fit the same, the ends of the braid being soldered to the shoulders or to the tenons, or to both, thus forming a very neat and firm connection, as will be readily appreciated.

Instead of using one large hollow braid, b,

two or more smaller braids in a parallel group may be used, as will be easily understood.

Anklets and collars may, of course, be made on precisely the same plan as the bracelet, be-

ing simple equivalents for the bracelet.

What I claim isl. A bracelet or similar article of jewelry constructed partly of rigid portions and partly of a metallic bendable braid or spiral, joining the rigid portions and forming the joint-section of the bracelet, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A bracelet or similar article of jewelry made of two rigid or continuous halves joined 

